Layover at Vienna for 6 hours - enough for some sightseeing?
In a week I'll be travelling from Sofia to Copenhagen, but with a transit through Vienna. I'll be arriving at 9:00 and my next flight is at 15:15, which makes a total of 6h15m. I thought this could be enough to grab a quick peak at the city and maybe one or two of the tourist attractions, since I've never been to Vienna before, but I heard it's certainly a place worth visiting.
Are these 6 hours enough to go in the city and check out at least one or two of the most popular tourist attractions, and which of them are closest to the airport?
(I'm an EU citizen, and I'll be travelling with no luggage, so hopefully I won't have to spend too much time at the airport dealing with luggage/passport control).
Best Answer
The City Airport Train will take you (close to) the center in just 16 minutes. It is however a lot more expensive than the regular train going the same way in just 10 or so minutes more. Each of the two trains runs every 20-30 minutes, so the fastest option depends on when exactly you arrive at the train station.
From the terminal Wien Mitte-Landstraße you can either continue with the U3 subway line for 2 stations to get to Stephansplatz (the very heart of the city), or just walk there. All of the historical center is really nice and you can find nice and interesting places everywhere. If you want to see as many sights as possible on a short walk (1-2 hours if you want to see stuff), you can follow e.g., this route.
It's certainly possible to do this with a 6 hour overlay, but it will be quite stressful, especially if you need to pick up your luggage after arriving in Vienna.
Pictures about "Layover at Vienna for 6 hours - enough for some sightseeing?"
Can I leave the Vienna airport during a layover?
Although exploring a city during a stopover might be difficult to pull off without a full 24 hours in most cities, getting out of the airport is totally do-able and greatly encouraged on a short layover in Vienna.What can you do in Vienna for 6 hours?
Six hours- Landstrasse, Vienna, Austria.
- Karlsplatz, Vienna, Austria.
- Karls Church, Kreuzherrengasse 1, Vienna, Austria.
- Secession Building, Friedrichstra\xdfe 12, Vienna, Austria.
- Stephansdome, Stephansplatz 3, Vienna, Austria.
- Caf\xe9 Pruckl, Stubenring 24, Vienna, Austria.
- The Opera House, Opernring 2, Vienna, Austria.
Is one hour enough for a connecting flight in Vienna?
Customs is always done at the final airport, in Vienna your bags will thus be automatically transfered to your connecting flight. One hour is definitely enough if your flight from the US arrives on time, waiting times at immigration aren't that long in Vienna.How long should I spend in Vienna?
We think that three days in Vienna is the perfect amount of time for a visit. Three days will let you see the majority of the main sights in this beautiful city that you're interested in, plus add in a few of the less well-known attractions, without being too rushed.5 Mistakes Tourists Make When They Visit Vienna, Austria
More answers regarding layover at Vienna for 6 hours - enough for some sightseeing?
Answer 2
Yes. For example, only 16 minutes to central Vienna, so sightseeing in that interval is viable but what to see there seems to be a matter of opinion so off topic here.
Answer 3
I would advise against Schloss Schönbrunn, it is in the West of the City, while the airport is in the east. It is quite far away from most of the other sights which are in the City.
So i would suggest a quick tour round St. Stephan, Hofburg, Opera and maybe Museumsquartier.
Another data point regarding the CAT (City Aiport Train), Taking a Taxi is still twice as expensive than taking the CAT.
Answer 4
Note: Vienna is not very efficient airport, and there can be long walks involved between areas since it is badly planned and security can take some time if you are unlucky.
As much as people here advise for the train to get to the city, If you want to go to Schönbrunn you may consider (budget allowing) just grabbing a pre-booked car transfer immediately, since they'll wait for you in the arrival hall and might save you 45 minutes (of average waiting and journey time) compared to the CAT/ S-Bahn and subway journey. From there, take the U4 subway back to Karlsplats (~20 minutes) on the edge of the first district, have a walk through central Vienna past the cathedral, and then walk the short distance to Wien Mitte station where you could take the train back to the airport.
That proposal is a very hectic itinerary. There is more than enough to keep you very busy downtown, and has plenty of good architecture and historical atmosphere. Aside from the Cathedral, try Hofburg, shopping streets Kohlmarkt and Graben, and the countless little streets that are less populated by tourists.
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